Chapter 168

2013 -- S 0639 SUBSTITUTE B

Enacted 07/11/13

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

          

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Gallo, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

 

     CHAPTER 100

DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

 

     16-100-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Dual

Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act.”

 

     16-100-2. Definition.--“Dual Enrollment” means that a student is enrolled in a secondary

school while simultaneously enrolled part-time or full-time at a local institution of higher

learning, such as a community college or university.”

 

     16-100-3. Policy implemented. – (a) The Board of Education shall prescribe by

regulation a statewide dual enrollment policy that shall allow students to enroll in courses at

postsecondary institutions to satisfy academic credit requirements in both high school and the

aforementioned postsecondary institutions. The regulations shall address the postsecondary

institution’s graduation requirements, if any; the institution’s ability to award degrees/certificates

in Rhode Island; the minimum course grade to receive credit at the student’s secondary school;

and any other criteria that the Board deems appropriate.

     (b) The board shall convene a workgroup, including, but not limited to, representatives

from the department of elementary and secondary education, the office of higher education,

superintendents, school committees, public higher education institutions, guidance counselors,

and teachers. The purpose of the workgroup is to consider and advise the board as to a dual

enrollment policy and its possible effect on school funding pursuant to section 16-7.2, academic

supports, transportation, possible shared costs of the education, possible fee schedules, manners

in which low-income students could access the program and, possible contracted tuition costs

with our public higher education institutions.

 

     16-100-4. Dual enrollment adoption. -- School districts and schools must adopt the

statewide dual enrollment policy promulgated pursuant to this section by June 30, 2015. All

school districts, charter schools, career and technical schools, approved private day or residential

schools and collaborative schools shall be subject to the requirements of this section.

 

     16-100-5. Reporting. -- School districts that have students participating in dual

enrollment programs shall report to the department of elementary and secondary education on an

annual basis regarding the number of students, the number of credits enrolled in at postsecondary

institutions, the name of the institution, and the dollar amount the school district is allocated for

this program. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide the governor,

president of the senate and speaker of the house a report that shall contain the above information

provided by district and in the aggregate on an annual basis by October 31 of each year,

commencing on July 1, 2016.

 

     SECTION 2: This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01957/SUB B

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